Community volunteers make Independence Day event thrive

Kim Palaferri/Colfax RecordRichard Crabtree, age 6 at the time, competes with the big boys in the Downhill Derby during the 2011 Colfax Independence Day event. Organizers say entries are needed for this year?s derby to be held at the celebration on Tuesday, July 3.

Kim Palaferri/Colfax RecordAn entry as simple as a car, decked out with flowers and a handmade sign, is all that?s needed to get into Colfax?s Independence Day parade coming up July 3. Driving the VW bug in last year?s parade is Cathy Kiefer, with Carole Pengally riding shotgun.

Volunteers from Colfax Pride Inc. have had July ?4? on their minds for many months.
They?ve been meeting regularly to organize the 2012 Colfax Independence Day celebration taking place Tuesday, July 3. Now, they?d like others to get involved in celebrating the nation?s birthday.
The daylong affair will include the Lions Club Main Parade at 6 p.m., Kiwanis Little Patriots Parade at 5 p.m., Downhill Derby at 1 p.m., Doxie Races at 3 p.m. and vendors, food and music beginning at noon. And this year, the fireworks display returns to end the night with a flourish.
But some events are in danger of being canceled if community members don?t step forward to participate.
?We need lots of Doxies,? said Carmen Armstrong, who?s in charge of the Doxie Races. The competition is open only to Dachshunds, and currently there are only six dogs entered. ?I need a minimum of 12 dogs,? Armstrong said. The entry fee of $5 per dog covers the cost of printing flyers and similar expenses, she said. Call Armstrong at 346-8474 to sign up a dog.
In a worse predicament is the Downhill Derby, which to date has no entries at all. From six to eight entries are needed to hold the race, according to chairman Tim Killebrew. He said he?ll need that many entries by Wednesday, June 27, in order to hold the race.
Killebrew said the derby is open to anyone age 6 and older. Entries must have four wheels, mechanical steering and a good brake system. There?s no entry fee; participants just need to sign a waiver at the race.
For more information about entering a four-wheeled crate in the race, call Killebrew at 545-2344
There are always plenty of entries for the Lions parade, but chairman Ernie Steiner of the Colfax Lions Club would still appreciate receiving entry forma early so that the club can accommodate everyone. Trophies will be awarded for the best depictions of the Independence Day theme. There?s no fee for entries by non-profit groups and children; all others will be charged $20 each. For an entry form, call Steiner at 637-5131.
To enter a youngster in the Kiwanis Kiddies Parade contact Melba Delfino, of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Colfax, at 346-6539.
The public can also get involved by purchasing ?I Bought the Works? buttons to help finance the fireworks and other July 3 activities. This year?s pin is the creation of local artists Jim Bowers and Foxey McCleary, based on the shadow figures murals they painted throughout town.
Laurel Mathe, Colfax Pride president, said the buttons are available at the Colfax Area Chamber of Commerce, Buzz thru Joe?s, and other businesses around town. ?We?re almost out,? Mathe said.
The sale of raffle tickets for a handmade quilt made and donated by Suzanne Maguire of Whistle Stop Quilt Shop is also helping finance the celebration. Quilt tickets, at $1 each, are available at the quilt shop.
The 2011 Colfax Independence Day celebration was a hit with crowds, even though there were no funds to hold fireworks. However, through the sale of ?I Bought the Works? buttons both last year and this year, plus quilt raffles and sponsorships, Colfax Pride is close enough to its goal to plan for fireworks. For now, only a declaration by local fire officials that the fire danger is too high could derail the fireworks display.
Mathe said Colfax Pride is about $2,000 short of the $10,000 or so needed to put on the celebration.
?The fireworks themselves are $8,000. We spend about $1,200 on bands and entertainment. The rest is for garbage bags and miscellaneous things we need that day,? Mathe said.
The nonprofit Colfax Pride pays insurance and all the other expenses, she said. In previous years, costs totaled from $13,000 to $16,000 to put on the festival, but community service groups have stepped forward to help. ?Each group takes on a part of the event ? it?s huge,? she said.